BMG Rights buys leading French music company

The acquisition for an undisclosed sum takes in the Disques Motors, FDM and Dreyfus Jazz publishing and recording catalogues and includes Jarre albums such as Oxygene, Equinoxe and Chants Magnetiques. The purchase also takes in works by French singer and songwriter Christophe, among them Les Morts Bleus, Aline, Success Fou and Les Paradis Perdus.

The publishing assets of the Paris-based company, which was founded in 1970 by Dreyfus who passed away in 2010, include the Labrador Editions catalogue, spanning four decades of works and housing songs recorded by artists such as Johnny Hallyday, Patriock Juvet, Daniel Guichatrd, Bernard Lavillers, Nilda Fernandez and Francoise Hardy.

Several David Guetta songs co-written by Peter Kitch are also part of the acquisition, alongside the jazz label Dreyfus Jazz, which was launched in1991 and includes recordings by artists such as Michel Petrucciani, Eddy Louiss, Richard Galliano, Aldo Romano, Philip Catherine, Didier Lockwood, Bireli Lagrene, Sylvain Luc, Rosario Giuliani, Geraldine Laurent and Adrien Moignard. It is also home to recordings by US artists including Roy Haynes, Ahmad Jamal, Marcus Miller, The Mingus Big Band, Jean-Michel Pilc, Steve Grossman and Lucky Peterson.

BMG Rights Management CEO Hartwig Masuch said: "We are very happy to be able to represent Dreyfus's outstanding songwriters and artists. The Dreyfus jazz catalogue in particular is well-renowned and we see tremendous licensing potential in it."

BMG France managing director Stephane Berlow added: "The publishing and recorded music roster put together by Francis Dreyfus over several decades contains truly iconic songwriters, artists and songs. We feel proud now to represent this fabulous catalogue and label, and continue the Dreyfus saga going forward."

Dreyfus's widow Helene Dreyfus said doing the deal was an important decision for herself and her daughters Laura, Chloe and Julie.

"It was paramount for us to find a potential suitor who would continue the work of Francis with the same spirit of courage, fidelity and generosity that was always his way. After many months of conversation, we believe and trust that BMG will continue in this same manner. We are pleased to make this announcement," she added.